Sled.



o. L. BBARDSLBY. Y

SLBD.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1908.

907,21 7. Patented Dec.'22, 1908.

Wijn/Gades.' A Julen/Lors OTIS L. BEARDSLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

' Application filed September 16, 1908. Serial N o. 453,219.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, Oris L. BEARDSLEY, citizen of thelUnited States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Iliinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sleds, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to a sled and more particularly to a sled in whichthe runners are adapted to be folded when not in use. Its object is toprovide a sled of simple construction which is strong and which may bereadily folded or secured in the open or running position.

My invention consists of a sled provided with a pair of runners formedof a metal rod bent in the shape of an elongated loop, the ends of whichare pivoted to the body of the sled in order that they may be readilyfolded or opened, and a folding U-shaped brace pivoted beneath the bodyof the sled and adapted to bear against the inner side of the loop approximately midway between its ends to brace the same.

One feature of my invention contemplates a brace having suchconstruction that it engages directly with the runners and requires nointermediate fastening means to A hold the same in place against saidrunners.

Another feature of my invention consists in so constructing the bracethat when it is in its open position the weight upon the body of thesled has no tendency to cause said brace to collapse.

These and other features of my invention may be more readily understoodby reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a sideelevation of a sled embodying my invention Fig. 2 is a bottoni plan viewthereof with the runners adjusted to their running or open position; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view showing the parts in their folded position;and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing a modified form ofbracing member.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout theseveral views.

The runners 1,1 each consist of a rod, preferably of metal such assteel, bent into the form of an elongated open loop, each end of theloop being pivoted to the body 4 of the sled and preferably beneath thesame. Such pivotal connection may be provided by bars 2 which extendtransversely across the bottom of the sled at each end thereof and inwhich sockets are formed near the edges of the sled in which the ends ofthe rods l, l are pivoted. Each end of the rod l is bent outwardly as at3 at approximately right Aangles to the plane of the runners. When saidrunners are thus-iii their open position the angular projections 3 lieagainst the bottoni of the sled body 4 and limit the outward movement ofthe runners l.

In order that there may be no tendency of the runners folding togetherwhen the sled is in use, I preferably have those portions of the runnerswhich engage with the ice or snow over which the sled is drawn slightlyoutside of the vertical plane passing through the pivotal point-s ofsaid runner. This feature is shown in somewhat exaggerated form for thesake of clearness in Fig. 2. With i such construction, however heavy theweight placed upon the body of the sled, there is no tendency of therunners to collapse inwardly into a folding position. Pivotally securedbeneath the body 4 is a U-sliaped brace. Said brace consists of a base5-and two arms 6, 6, the base 5 extending transversely of the sled at apoint intermediate its ends, and is pivotally secured beneath the body 4in suitable bearings 7, 7. The U-shaped brace, when the runners are intheir folded position, may be folded against the bottom of the sled asshown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The base 6 of the U-shaped bracket is provided with one or more bends 8,said bends being formed at an angle slightly less than 90 with respectto the arms 6, 6 of the brace. Said bends 8 are adapted when the braceis in its open position to lie against the bottom of the body 4 of thesled and thus limit the open position of the brace. As shown in F ig. 3the arms 6 fold toward the front of the sled, and when said brace is inengagement with the runners l, the arms 6 extend downwardly and to aslight extent backwardly. In short, the arms 6 in their open positionlie slightly back of a plane extending through their pivotal axis. Itwill thus be seen that any strain or weight placed upon the sled willhave no tendency whatever to cause said brace to collapse into itsfolded position.

The free ends of the arms 6, 6 are preferably provided with grooves 9, 9for receiving the runners 1, l. Said runners l are also preferablyslightly bowed inwardly when not in engagement by the brace, as shown inFig. 3. However, when said runners are engaged by the brace, they areysprungoutwardly so as to form a horizontal straight line, as shown inFig. l, the runners l thus themselves exerting a spring pressure uponthe U-shaped brace, thus increasing the frictional engagement of saidbrace and runners and decreasing any tendency to collapse.

The bends 8, 8 and the base 5 may be so spaced apart that when the braceand the runners are in their folded position said runners are sprunginto the opening between the bends 8, 8 and thus locked ina foldedposition, as shown in Fig. 4L.

`While I have shown my invention as einbodied in a hand sled, it will beunderstood that said invention may also be embodied in sleds of a largerstructure, and of varying types.

I claim 1. In a sled, the combination with a body, of a pair of foldingrunners each consisting of a rod in the form of an elongated loop havingits ends pivoted to said body, and a U-shaped folding brace pivoted atits base upon the under side of said body transversely thereof, the endsof the two arms of said U-shaped brace being each provided with a groove-for receiving the corresponding runner when the parts are in their openposition.

2. In a sled, the combination with a body, of a pair of folding runnerseach consisting of a rod in the form of an elongated loop having itsends pivoted to said body, and a U-shapedfolding brace 'pivoted at itsbase upon the under side of said body transversely thereof, said basebeing provided with one or more bends extending at an angle slightlyless than 90c with respect to the plane of the arms of the brace, saidbends engaging the under side of said body and the ends of the arms ofsaid U-shaped brace engaging with said runners when the sled is unfoldedfor use.

3. In a sled, the combination with a body, of a pair of folding runners,each consisting of a rod in the form of an elongated loop having itsends pivoted to said body, the

central portion of each runner being slightly bowed inwardly withrespect to the loop when the runner is folded, and a U-shaped foldingbrace pivoted at its base upon the under side of said body, transverselythere of, the ends of the two arms of said U-shaped brace being eachprovided with a groove for receiving the corresponding runner when theparts are in their open position, the arms bearing against said runnersand pressing said bowed portions thereof into approximately straightlines.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my naine this 8th day ofSeptember A. D.,

@TIS L. BEARDSLEY lVitnesses:

GEORGE E. FOLK, ALFRED H. MOORE.

